Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • A9

THURSDAY, WWW.FREEP.COM 9A METRO The keys of Geri piano have fallen silent. The Detroit native and renowned jazz pianist, composer and educator who bucked classification in favor of an impeccable, genre-bending style, died Tuesday in Philadelphia at the age of 60, her brother confirmed to the Free Press. The cause of death was cancer, her longtime manager Ora Harris told NPR. Allen was widely considered by critics and her peers as one of the greatest contemporary jazz pianists. Allen offered a fresh, distinct voice through her instrument of choice, knew few sonic boundaries an played with an intensity that allowed for dynamic arcs and rhythms to thrive in both her original compositions and covers.

the female Herbie Hancock on the says Detroit jazz bassist Ralphe Armstrong, who says he knew Allen from the age of 14 years old when they were students at Cass Technical High School aschool with a legacy as a hotbed for jazz talent. played with the greatest jazz artists and she also used the same rhythm section Miles Davis fellow Cass Tech grad and bassist Ron Carter and Tony Williams, considered one of the most influential jazz drummers of all time. For that rhythm section to play with you, says Armstrong, got to be of the In a 1996 profile, former Free Press jazz and classical music critic Mark Stryker described Allen as a improviser and composer whose labyrinthine music features craggy rhythms, percussive melodies, dramatic silences, steely lyricism and a surprise lurking around every Allen was clear about her allegiances to jazz giants that came before her and the influence they bestowed upon her. interest today is to try to be very thorough and educated in terms of been laid down by Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner and Cecil Taylor because I think where they have set the piano is at the edge, as far as said Allen, in the 1996 Free Press profile. challenge is to continue to try to find my voice within the context of those three voices.

The point is to make the best music you can along the way, but to do all of those things is just not that easy. a lifelong An Allen worked and collaborated with a wide range of heavy hitters in the jazz world, from avant-garde saxophonist and free jazz pioneer Ornette Coleman to prolific Detroit jazz bassist Carter among many others. In 2008, Allen received a Guggenheim Fellowship in composition. Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid had collaborated with Allen on her 1998 album In a series of tweets, Reid said Allen the position of women in jazz creative and called her an for original In the early 1980s, Allen made a name for herself in the jazz clubs of New York City. The performer was a bright spot among somewhat traditionalist peers who focused primarily on re-creating early jazz styles.

During her time in New York, Allen paid the bills by touring for six months with former Supremes singer Mary Wilson. Allen said she owed much of her onstage wardrobe to the former Motown star. watched them make themselves up and I got all kinds of great ideas and Allen said in 1996. influenced me a lot because jazz was always like that. Until the it was very fashion-oriented and glamorous.

I wanted to project that in my stage renaissance Allen was born in Pontiac in 1957 and raised in Detroit. At a young age, she took to the piano. Like many homegrown jazz talents, Allen was a product of Cass Tech and studied under the late iconic jazz trumpeter Marcus Belgrave via his jazz development workshop. The duo would reunite for various recordings over the years, including most recently on Al- 2013 release River Crossings: Motown Motor City Allen had most recently served as the first artistic director for the Carr Center, a Detroit arts organization known for its arts education program and championing African-American art, culture and music. Her final Detroit performance was in April at the Carr Center.

As artistic director, Allen set the tone for creative programming and arts education at the Carr, working with established talent and students. Oliver Ragsdale president of the Carr Center, was a friend and professional associate of Allen. Ragsdale describes Allen as intellectual, someone you could talk to and smile way of thinking about Geri is as a renaissance says Ragsdale. spanned generations with her music. She was a role model to Ragsdale says the Carr Center plans to implement vision for the upcoming fall season, and that the center is working with family to plan a memorial event.

amazing Ragsdale says Allen made a major impact on the next generation of jazz musicians she encountered and taught. Allen studied at Howard University and the University of Pittsburgh, where she eventually served as director of jazz studies. She also spent time on the faculty at the University of Michigan, where she made an impact on students like Ian Finkelstein, 27. was an amazing says Finkelstein, who studied under Allen from late 2008 to 2013. encouraged really getting inside and understanding the masters of jazz and to use that as a method for discovering ourselves as Finkelstein recalls watching a video of a live performance of Allen performing with acclaimed jazz musician Charles Lloyd and wanting to imitate her sound.

was fortunate enough to have five years studying with says Finkelstein. were years that I will always Geri Allen is survived by her father, Mount Vernell Allen brother, Mount Vernell Allen III, and three children: Laila, Wallyand Barbara. Funeral arrangements and amemorial service are pending. One of greatest jazz pianists of her time, Detroit native dies at 60 By Ryan Patrick Hooper Special to the Detroit Free Press DANIEL TO THE FREE PRESS interest today is to try to be very thorough and My challenge is to continue to try to find my Geri Allen said in 1996. point is to make the best music you can along the way, but to do all of those things is just not that easy.

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